Toady is historic 7th March

On this day in 1971, Bangabandhu called upon all Bangalis to join the struggle for independence from Pakistan.

Addressing tens of thousands gathered at the Race Course ground (now Suhrawardy Udyan) in Dhaka, Bangabandhu proclaimed: “Ebarer sangram amader muktir sangram, ebarer sangram swadhinatar sangram (This time the struggle is for our freedom. This time the struggle for our independence).”

Poet Nirmalendu Goon says in a poem: “Since that day the word ‘independence’ is ours.”

President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have released separate messages marking the day.

They described the day as a ‘glorious chapter of our history’.

The president in his message said the March 7 speech of Sheikh Mujib was the charter of freedom for the Bengali nation.

He said the speech ‘will remain a perennial source of inspiration for the nation’.

Hamid said Mujib’s proclamation that ‘our struggle this time is the struggle for our independence’ was in fact a call for independence of the country.

In a sequel to the proclamation, he declared the independence on Mar 26, 1971, the president added.

The prime minister in her message said the popular aspirations of Bengalis were echoed in Bangabandhu’s speech ‘at the final stage of the struggle for independence’.

After the address ‘the entire nation’ joined the Liberation War, she added.

Describing the address as one of the world’s best political speeches, she said it was a source of strength and its appeal was still undiminished.

To observe the day, the ruling Awami League has hoisted the national and party flags at its office and Bangabandhu Bhaban at 6am.

The party leaders placed wreaths at the portrait of Sheikh Mujib at Bangabandhu Bhaban in the morning and will hold a public rally at Suhrawardy Udyan later in the afternoon.

Different political parties, social, cultural and professional bodies have drawn up programmes to mark the day.

Electronic media outlets are airing special programmes and newspapers have published special supplements on the occasion.

The speech

On March 7, 1971, as negotiations with Pakistan's military junta appearing to go nowhere, Mujib turned up at the Race Course, around 3:20pm wearing his trademark white Pyjama-Panjabi and a sleeveless black coat.

To the tens of thousands gathered, he began by saying: "Today, I come to you with a heavy heart. You know everything and understand all that has been going on. We tried our best.

“But every time we have talked, the streets of Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi and Rangpur have been gone red with the blood of our brothers. People of Bangladesh today want freedom. They want to live. They want to secure their rights."

In his extempore speech before a million freedom-loving people of East Pakistan, he proclaimed amid slogans, "This time the struggle is for our freedom. This time the struggle is for our independence.”

His address cut across the social divide and struck a chord with 70 million Bengali people.

The great leader called for a civil uprising and declared the war against the then Pakistani junta.

The charismatic orator said: “We have given much blood but we will give more. But this time, we will definitely liberate the country In Sha'a Allah … Turn every house into a fort and face [the enemy] with whatever you have.”

He also called upon the Bengalis to prepare for armed struggle against Pakistani military junta.

The 19-minute speech had moved people from all walks of life to prepare for the War of Independence.